Central City Productions wrapped up the taping of the 34th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Friday, March 29 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The biggest night in gospel music, hosted by Kirk Franklin, will premiere on BET Network on Easter Sunday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT.
The stand-out highlight of the evening was an emotional tribute performance by Kelly Price, Erica Campbell and Regina Belle honoring the undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Family members of the late-legend Brenda Corbett, Jordan Franklin and Kecalf Franklin were presented with the inaugural Aretha Franklin ICON Award to give posthumous recognition of her profound impact on the Gospel music genre and unforgettable contributions.
The nights biggest winner of the annual show was performer Jonathan McReynolds, who swept the awards taking home eight Stellar Awards including AT&T Artist of the Year, State Farm Song of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year, Producer of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year and Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year. Jekalyn Carr received three awards for Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year. The Walls Group were awarded twice as Duo/Chorus Group of the Year and Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year.
A special award presentation was also given to honor gospel legend Delores Washington Green of The Caravans with the Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award. Gospel star Yolanda Adams and Stellar Awards Founder, Chairman & CEO Don Jackson inducted James Robinson Jr. (Malaco Gospel), Jackie Patillo (Gospel Music Association) and Phil Thornton (RCA Inspiration) into the Stellar Honors Hall of Fame.
This year’s line-up of performances included an energetic opening number by Hezekiah Walker, Kirk Franklin stirring the audience to their feet performing new music and a rousing medley by Phil Thompson, Kelontae Gavin and Maranda Curtis. Other performers included Brian Courtney Wilson, Koryn Hawthorne, Todd Dulaney, Charles Jenkins, Jekalyn Carr and emerging new artists Jabari Johnson, Will McMillian and more.
The show will continue to air around the country in broadcast syndication from April 27 through May 26 (check local listings). For more information visit us at www.thestellarawards.com.
34th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners
Category #1 – ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One
Category #2 – SONG OF THE YEAR
– Not Lucky, I’m Loved, Jonathan McReynolds, Terrell Demetrius Wilson & Anna B. Warner, Entertainment One
Category #3 – MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One
CATEGORY #4 -ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Jekalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group
CATEGORY #5 -DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
– The Walls Group, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
CATEGORY #6 – NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Jabari Johnson, Day of Redemption, Entertainment One
CATEGORY #7 – CD OF THE YEAR
– Make Room, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One
CATEGORY #8 – CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, Run to the Altar, JH/Tyscot
CATEGORY #9 -PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds & Darryl “Lil Man” Howell, Make Room, Entertainment One
CATEGORY #10 – CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
– The Walls Group, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul
CATEGORY #11 – TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
– Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin, Wonder Spirit/SRT/Shanachie
CATEGORY #12- CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One
CATEGORY #13 -TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– VaShawn Mitchell, Cross Music, Tyscot
CATEGORY #14 – CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Tasha Page-Lockhart, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
CATEGORY #15 – TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Jekalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group
CATEGORY #16 – CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
– Make Room, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One
CATEGORY #17 – TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
– One Nation Under God, Jekalyn Carr, Lunjeal Music Group
CATEGORY #18 – URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
– Not Lucky, I’m Loved, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One
CATEGORY #19 – MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
– Won’t He Do It, Casey Cross, RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #20 – TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, Run to the Altar, JH/Tyscot
CATEGORY #21 – CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– New Direction, When All God’s Children Get Together, New Haven Records
CATEGORY #23 – SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
– The Best of Fred Hammond, Fred Hammond, Verity/Sony Music
CATEGORY #24 – RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
– God Knows, Flame, Clear Sight Music
CATEGORY #25 – YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
– Pure N Heart, “Be You” 15 Years Unplugged, Music2ChangeU
CATEGORY #26 – QUARTET OF THE YEAR
– Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin, Wonder Spirit / SRT/Shanachie
CATEGORY #27 – RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
– Israel Houghton, Road to DeMaskUs, RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #28 – PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
– Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One
THOMAS A. DORSEY MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
– The Sensational Nightingales
DR. BOBBY JONES LEGENDS AWARD
– Dolores Washington Green
ARETHA FRANKLIN ICON AWARD
– Aretha Franklin (posthumously)
STELLAR HONORS HALL OF FAME
– Jackie Patillo
– Phil Thornton
– James D. Robinson, Jr.
GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR WINNERS
MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR
– WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta
LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR
– WFMI-FM 100.9 FM, Virginia Beach
MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR
– WCGL AM 1360/FM 94.7, Jacksonville
SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR
– WIMG 1300AM, Ewing
INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR
– uGospel Radio, uGospel.com
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR
– Dwight Stone, WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta, GA
